Starlink Now Has $5/Month “Standby” Mode

[CT_AZ_4x4]

Do it before 9-13-25 or your paused service will get cancelled.

Sponsored

 

[L3it3R]

I use it a lot every 5-6 days or so, and I’ve not paused it before, but my next few moths will change that and this is very cool to see

 

[REM]

Just activated my permanently mounted mini. I've been waiting for a plan like this so that anyone in reach of my truck can have some sort of connectivity. Of course, I'll switch it to unlimited roam when I'm making long road-trips, camping, special events, etc.

 

[Gaximus]

what do they mean your pause service will be canceled? As in your active again and pay full price? Or your service ends complely? I was seriously considering getting star link due to the ability to pause, but it completely changes everything now.

 

[CT_AZ_4x4]

what do they mean your pause service will be canceled? As in your active again and pay full price? Or your service ends complely? I was seriously considering getting star link due to the ability to pause, but it completely changes everything now.

It used to be that a Starlink client (like me) could “pause” service and during the pause not have any monthly fees. Starlink is cancelling the potential to “pause” but now allows a “standby” mode for $5/month. “Standby” provides a constant-but-low-speed Internet connection. This can be convenient for low-speed use, for connecting to Starlink when you need to shift into a high-speed plan, and for software updates to your dish. I think it’s great. For just $5/month I can make guaranteed phone calls and texts, and instantly shift to a high-speed plan at will, and back again.

Your phrase “this changes everything” made me laugh out loud. No offense, but that phrase seems hyperbolic. Hahaha, (please laugh with me.)

 

[hemiarch]

I think this makes the $10 a month plan seem like a better deal, honestly.

 

[CT_AZ_4x4]

I think this makes the $10 a month plan seem like a better deal, honestly.

Is the $10 plan capped at 50 gig/month?

For high-speed I prefer the unlimited roaming plan. We blow through 50g in like 3 days for entertainment and work when roadtripping. But when not roadtripping we don’t utilize it.

 

[hemiarch]

Is the $10 plan capped at 50 gig/month?

For high-speed I prefer the unlimited roaming plan. We blow through 50g in like 3 days for entertainment and work when roadtripping.

No, but extra data isn’t cheap. If you use more it’s better to just go unlimited in my opinion

 

[jahansolu]

Also, the speed limit is 500 kb/s both download or upload in case anyone else is wondering:

*** Screenshot directly from Starlink.com ***

 

[Gaximus]

Your phrase “this changes everything” made me laugh out loud. No offense, but that phrase seems hyperbolic. Hahaha, (please laugh with me.)

It was meant to be humous, but it also means I really won’t be getting the service. If a company is willing to change their “no service plan” to a ”tiny service plan” for $5. Then in a year it’ll become $10. And just keep raising a few bucks every couple of months. Before you know it your paying $15 for a service I don’t want(don’t want as in actually don’t want, just want it turned off when I don’t use it). My plan was to get the setup, and on long road trips, camping, or cruises(If this works, then the setup alone pays for an internet package on one cruise), then pause until I need it.

 

[SteelyMcSteelFace]

I wonder if standby mode is enough for in-car road maps and streaming music? An average mp3 is 128 kbit/s (Apple Music apparently streams at 64 kbps in the car) so a 500 Kbps connection ought to be more than enough. Not sure how much bandwidth road maps without satellite imagery use. One source says 5-10 MB/hour which at .5 mbps (225 MB/hour) should be fine.

Might be a good option for those forest/mountain road trips without cell coverage.

 

[hemiarch]

I wonder if standby mode is enough for in-car road maps and streaming music? An average mp3 is 128 kbit/s (Apple Music apparently streams at 64 kbps in the car) so a 500 Kbps connection ought to be more than enough. Not sure how much bandwidth road maps without satellite imagery use.

Might be a good option for those forest/mountain road trips without cell coverage.

Maybe so but full speed and 50gb for $10 a month still sounds like a better “backup” and “only in remote areas” option to me.
Am I crazy?

 

[SteelyMcSteelFace]

Where’s the $10/month plan that gives you 50gb? You’re right that could be a decent option vs standby, but I can’t find it. There’s a $50/month for 50gb plan that I do see.

 

[hemiarch]

My mistake. It’s 10gb for the $10 plan. Fwiw, I’ve been using that for a few months and paid zero overage fees.
Only use it when there is no cell service though.
I also don’t really stream on it. I download stuff onto my kids iPads ahead of time.

 

[Speedr]

It was meant to be humous, but it also means I really won’t be getting the service. If a company is willing to change their “no service plan” to a ”tiny service plan” for $5. Then in a year it’ll become $10. And just keep raising a few bucks every couple of months. Before you know it your paying $15 for a service I don’t want(don’t want as in actually don’t want, just want it turned off when I don’t use it). My plan was to get the setup, and on long road trips, camping, or cruises(If this works, then the setup alone pays for an internet package on one cruise), then pause until I need it.

I agree it was overly generous of them when you could just pause it, but the $5/mo seems reasonable. As far as I'm aware, there really is no other company that does this (let you just pause anytime and restart without any fee). Most require some kind of annual contract, and if not, there's always an activation fee. Also, I'm trying to remember the last time any monthly fee was just $5...

Sponsored